BACKGROUND: The tobacco whitefly(Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) and western flower thrips(Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) seriously damaged to several greenhouse crops and transmitted plant viruses such as the Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus(TYLCV) and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus(TSWV). Objective of this study was to elucidate exclusion effects of insect screen nets by various hole sizes and colors for control of the two insect pests in controlled environments such as a closed plant production system.METHODS AND RESULTS: The exclusion effects to various hole sizes of three other colors with 30 individuals of two insect pests was evaluated. B. tabaci was not showed not difference to different colors and sizes. F. occidentalis showed that 0.2 mm black screen was the most effective exclusion than other colors of 0.6 and 0.8 mm.CONCLUSION: The two insects were different reponses to various hole sizes of white and other color screen nets. It was proved that the 0.4 mm white screen net used in this experimental condition was suitable for exclusion of B. tabaci and 0.2 mm black forF. occidentalis.

Fatnassi, H., Boulard, T., & Bouirden, L. (2013). Development, validation and use of a dynamic model for simulate the climate conditions in a large scale greenhouse equipped with insect-proof nets. Computers and Electronics and Agriculture, 98, 54-61.